This Day in History

 In 1900, 1,000 people on a Nome beach witnessed the rescue of two miners after their skiff exploded. Water had leaked into the bottom of the boat, which was carrying 15 pounds of sodium.

 In 1913, the main tunnel of the Alaska-Juneau Gold Mine was completed.

 In 1930, Matt Nieminen was the first pilot to fly over the summit of Mt. McKinley.

 In 1949, the U.S. Post Office announced plans for the first rural free-delivery route in Ketchikan. (There was neither city nor rural mail delivery in the Territory then.)

 In 1959, a U.S. District Judge issued a temporary restraining order aimed at ending a union work stoppage in Skagway that was halting Canadian freight traffic through the port.

 In 1965, Albert Rothfus of the Alaska National Guard saved 3-year old Emily Guthrie from drowning in Ketchikan Creek. He was later awarded the first Alaska Medal of heroism.

 In 1979, a fire of unknown origin destroyed three buildings in Chitna, including the town's only store.

In the nation

 In 1846, the American flag was raised for the first time in Los Angeles.

 In 1934, the satirical comic strip "Li'l Abner," created by Al Capp, made its debut.

 In 1981, in a ceremony at his California ranch, President Reagan signed a historic package of tax and budget reductions.

 In 1996, at their convention in San Diego, Republicans delivered a blistering critique of President Clinton's record, portraying the Democratic incumbent as an unprincipled liberal conning voters with election-year conservatism.

 In 2005, the Pentagon said for the second time since the Iraq war began, it was replacing body armor for U.S. troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, citing a need for better protection.

 In 1624, French King Louis XIII named Cardinal Richelieu his first minister.

 In 1704, the Battle of Blenheim was fought during the War of the Spanish Succession, resulting in a victory for English and Austrian forces over French and Bavarian soldiers.

 In 1932, Adolf Hitler rejected the post of vice chancellor of Germany, saying he was prepared to hold out "for all or nothing."

 In 1960, the first two-way telephone conversation by satellite took place with the help of Echo 1.

 In 1961, Berlin was divided as East Germany sealed off the border between the city's eastern and western sectors in order to halt the flight of refugees.

 In 2001, Macedonia's rival political leaders sign a landmark peace accord aimed at ending six months of bloody conflict and clearing the way for NATO troops to disarm ethnic Albanian rebels. Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi tried, with little apparent success, to ease the anger of Asian neighbors by visiting a controversial war shrine two days before the actual anniversary of Japan's World War II surrender.